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When To Seek Urgent Care For Your Child With Cerebral Palsy

Each year, about 10,000 babies are born with a condition called cerebral palsy. For many babies, along with difficulties that involve movement and muscle coordination, they will end up having underlying conditions as well. Some babies will not be able to eat by mouth and will need a feeding tube. Others may have to wear braces on their feet and legs to help them walk. Still, some children will have severe mobility issues and may become wheelchair bound as they get older.

Because of the many parts of the body cerebral palsy can affect, having a child with this disorder requires a lot of extra care. Sometimes this extra care involves many trips to different types of therapists, doctors, and specialists. If a child with cerebral palsy gets sick or has unusual symptoms, it is oftentimes best to take them to urgent care.

There are two conditions in particular that parents of children with cerebral palsy need to be aware of, as these conditions have symptoms that warrant a trip to urgent care.

Seizures

According to statistics, about half of all children with cerebral palsy also have a condition called epilepsy. Like cerebral palsy, epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is characterized by having seizures. Some of the most common symptoms of seizures include

  • Uncontrollable body movements
  • Rigid muscles
  • Drooling
  • Difficulty talking
  • Tongue biting

While there is no cure for epilepsy, there are certain medications that can lessen the frequency of seizures. When a child has a seizure, it can be very scary for the parent, especially the first time it happens. If a parent suspects their child is having a seizure, they should call a doctor. Parents should take their child to urgent care if the seizure lasts over five minutes, or the child is having repeated seizures.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Aspiration

Another coexisting condition that affects children with cerebral palsy is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). While this condition affects the digestion, GERD can cause other problems for children with cerebral palsy, especially those who also have trouble swallowing.

One problem in particular is called aspiration, which is when foods and liquids enter into the lungs. If a child is aspirating, they will most likely start coughing and have difficulty breathing. There may also be regurgitation and drooling. If a child continues to cough or starts choking, it will require a trip to urgent care. For children with severe GERD and aspiration, a feeding tube may be necessary.


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